Purpose: :
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) patients failing to respondto conventional therapies may be experiencing complicationsunresponsive to the primary care they receive. Our studies onthe AMD patients failing to respond favorably to anti-VascularEndothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) therapies (Lucentis/Avastin),lead to inquiry into the possibility of additional retinal complications.We sought evidence of any demonstrable form of retinal hypersensitivityinvolving vasculature through an investigation into the immunologicstatus of 45 patients with AMD.

Methods: :
Each of the 45 patient’s antibody activity was evaluatedon Western blots of retina, in vitro cultivated human RetinalPigment Epithelium (RPE), and in vitro Human Embrionic VascularEndothelial Cells (HUVEC).

Results: :
Nine of the 45 patient’s sera were found on blots of retinato exhibit antibody with a 55 kd protein component. Furtherevaluation on blots of HUVEC revealed similar activity witha 55 kd protein component of these cells in the sera of thesesame nine patients. No comparable reaction was apparent in blotsof RPE. None of the remaining 36 patients were reactive withthe 55 kd retina and HUVEC components.

Conclusions: :
One of the superimposed, secondary complications of AMD caninclude vascular inflammations probably initiated at some sitewithin the host, distant from the eye, such as that seen insome cases of atherosclerosis. Recognition of complicating factorsenables an improved therapeutic approach to the treatment ofAMD, recognizing that the malady may be accompanied by occult,potentially pathologic complications.